It is Spain’s Cepsa that is splashing the cash on a Nordic American Tankers suezmax.
Broker reports revealed the Madrid-based oil and gas outfit is the charterer behind the “mid-high 30s” fixture the company announced last week — pegging the rate at $36,000 per day and naming the ship as the 157,587-dwt Nordic Space (built 2017).
Cepsa has been approached for comment.
The rate of $36,000 per day is well above market rates, with Clarksons assessing a five-year suezmax charter at $32,000 per day and Howe Robinson at a lower $27,500 per day.
The eco-designed Nordic Space is one of the Herbjorn Hansson-led company’s youngest vessels, older only than two other 2018-built ships in its 20-strong fleet.
The fixture was first announced by Nordic American Tankers last week, but neither vessel nor charterer was named and the rate was vague.
It came after a contentious second-quarter earnings period, where on a rare conference call Hansson said investors worried about the company’s ageing fleet and resulting low net asset value were scrap dealers.
“We don’t buy and sell ships. We keep the ships until the end of their useful life,” he said.
He also defended his company’s fleet, arguing that they have had no trouble securing charters for the four vessels that are 20 years old or older
A fifth was built in 2005.
Hansson also boasted about his fleet’s quality, arguing even if charterers are opportunistic, they ultimately want quality ships, which is what Nordic American Tankers offers.
